Folic Acid vs. Folate Explained and Simplified

Folic acid vs. folate—which should you be taking? Find out!

DATA:

0:00 Folic acid explained
0:10 Folic acid and pregnancy
1:30 How much vitamin B9 do you need?
2:25 The solution
3:32 Folic acid vs. folate
4:15 How to avoid synthetic folic acid
4:45 The best sources of folate
4:55 Folic acid and vitamin B12
5:53 Learn more about vitamin B12!

Today I’m going to cover folic acid and folate. Are they the same? No, they’re not—and we’re going to talk about why.

Folic acid is the synthetic version of vitamin B9, and folate is the natural version.

Many pregnant women take a supplement that contains folic acid because data shows that it can help prevent neural tube defects. But many people are finding that they have a genetic mutation related to B9, which means there could be a problem if they take folic acid.

This genetic mutation involves an enzyme responsible for converting folic acid into an active form so your body can use it. People with this mutation need more vitamin B9 than usual, but it’s also important that they don’t have too much.

For example, one of the top benefits of vitamin B9 is that it protects against the initiation of cancer. However, excess vitamin B9 is also involved in the initiation of new cancer cells.

The solution is to take a version of vitamin B9 that doesn’t require an enzyme to be converted—making this genetic mutation not a problem anymore.

What we need is more methylfolate. Methylfolate is a type of vitamin B9 that’s easily absorbed and doesn’t require other enzyme reactions like synthetic folic acid does.

Overall, it’s essential to avoid products that contain folic acid and consume more foods that contain natural folate. The best source of natural B9 is dark leafy green vegetables.

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:
Dr. Berg, age 58, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

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Disclaimer:
Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

#keto #ketodiet #weightloss #ketolifestyle

Thanks for watching! I hope this increases your awareness of folic acid vs. folate. I’ll see you in the next video.

[MorningClarity]

I'm glad this information is becoming more mainstream. I had an argument with a medical doctor a few years ago who insisted that there was NO difference between folate and folic acid.

[elizaine]

They put this folic acid in everything!!! You can’t even find pet foods without it! I think it’s done purposefully to keep people and pets sick! I try to keep it out of my life for me and my animals! Thanks for the info Dr Berg

[madelinemelocriollo]

I took the synthetic version all 3 pregnancies and I have 2 out of 3 autistic children. We also have the MTHFR mutation. I have yet to find a practitioner who understands methylation and the mthfr connection with all our symptoms... trying everything now to fix my kids guts and immune system... it's been a wild ride .... love all your videos Dr Berg.... keep em coming!! ❤❤❤ The way you explain everything makes it easy for me (sleep deprived, overstimulated, dis-regulated stressed out mom 😅) seriously can't thank you enough 😊

[Wake-UP]

You may still have a long way to go, but you're already so far from where you used to be, and you should be proud of that.

[fidelcatsro]

Take natural form of b9 called folate instead of folic acid...folate is found in dark leafy vegetables
Thank you Dr Berg! 🐱👍🏿

[paytimeforREDRUM]

Your channel has taught me so much and improved my mood, liver, kidness as well as giving me back the energy I lost a few years ago. I cant thank you enough Dr. Much love and appreciation from Europe.

[astridcyanistescaeruleus]

I studied medicine and fought with others about why they continued to prescribe folic acid to people with mutations like myself. What you're stating now is exactly what I fought about for years "if we have this mutation it means we cannot metabolize it, hence it will result like poison for us". I didn't take any because of that, despite the fact that I trusted them years before., I did take it, and the outcome was as expected: I felt awful. People start taking loads of worthless and deadly medicines as soon as they find out they have this mutation, and they also push their offspring to take them., which, In my opinion, it's a disaster. Unfortunately, metafolate did not work for me either.

[tolufavour]

Thanks Dr Berg, very helpful. I have PCOS and I take 600 mcg of methyl folate and this has been helpful. God bless you Dr Berg

[FlatEarther-india]

I told my wife not to eat this Folic acid she agreed and my kid is healthy 9th month pregnant 3454 grams weight. Waiting for delivery. Alhamdulillah

[andreimontecillo]

Just came from the Rogan - Gary Brecka podcast. The information here is important especially againsr post natal depression in women where they are told to take in lots if cheap Folic Acid!

Avoid it like the Plague!

[corneely]

Wow my mum is.preacribed folic acid for psoriasis & now prescribed B12!! I'll be changing that pronto!!
Thank you Dr berg

[yourenough]

Thanks Dr berg . I went from clean keto to carnivore yesterday and I'm feeling really good about this. 😊

[nikkimurray]

Thank you SO MUCH!!! This is a topic that several doctors (of mine and my mother) have failed to understand or explain clearly.

[chiefdan]

Thanks Dr. Berg! Please do more videos about MTHFR. A few years ago i tested deficient of folate. I was taking the synthetic methofolate like 15mg and within months I had severe problems like memory loss and paranoia. I stopped taking methofolate when I linked it to these cognitive issues. I then started a b-complex supplement for a month and now I eat nutritious foods and take a multivitamin

[jesusislord]

Thank you for sharing this!!!
My gastroenterologist prescribed folic acid!
It's going in the garbage asap!
Have a blessed day!
✌️💖🙏

[sammencia]

I happened upon your videos two weeks ago after a visit to a nutritionist as I am 62 and want to lose weight to prevent diabetes and get the load off my joints.
I threw out much in my fridge and replaced it with foods from many of your videos.

I ate bread and diet soda. Both are gone now.

I just finished an overnight fast, took a walk after waking up, then ate breakfast 2 hours later with coffee.

Too early to mention weight gain, we shall see in 2 weeks.

[vSwampFox]

Man I'd love to see more on EDS & MTHFR! My family suffers from this.

[doogieRN]

Thank you, Dr. Berg for this! I have Sickle Cell Anemia and they want me to take folic acid 4 1 mg pills every day. I stopped it a long time ago as the taste reminded me of the yellow chalk I used to eat when I was little from my sister's school supplies a serious pica. Now they want me to take it again along with Vitamin D as they said this was low. I refused to get it from the pharmacy!! I am going to purchase it from the supplement company I trust and have been using for 16 years. Thanks for this, and also up my dark green leafy vegetables.

[RechtmanDon]

There's obscure research dating back almost 20 years that connect folic acid (not folate) to regeneration of the hair cells responsible for hearing. This connection was triggered by research on the way birds, especially loud birds like parrots, are repeatedly destroying their hair cells due to their loud noises and then regenerating the hairs. A plausible folic acid role was noted. A 2007 study of a small set of elderly subjects found that folic acid may play a role in reducing or even reversing hearing loss due to aging.

I've been taking 20mg (yes, 20, 000mcg!) folic acid daily for more than three years, and at age 72, am the only one of my siblings without the need of a hearing aid. (My hearing tests show only a modest drop of the higher frequencies, less than what is normally associated with aging.) A more recent study suggested that 5mg or more daily may increase the incidence of colon cancer; all my colonoscopic exams have remained polyps-free. This study did not take into consideration other supplementation that may be colon-protective; there needs to be more studies that take a more wholistic approach to assessing nutrient supplementation, as no single nutrient is able to function on its own.

As the folic acid seems to be of benefit and there are no apparent side effects, I'm making the presumption that my physiology has figured out how to use it efficiently and effectively.

BTW, I take a Chinese OTC brand of folic acid; 100 5mg tablets costs 9. That's 9 yuan, or about USD $1.30!

[FAILxNerds]

Thank you for your time and videos. No matter how many unhealthy things i removed from my diet or how many calories i cut i was unable to lose weight but ive now lost 7lbs for the first time in 3 years. I have stage 4 endometriosis all of my lower organs are glued together so badly no one is will to give me surgery and the pain keeps me from being able to exorcize or even walk fast or be in a car for very long.